New York City has finally defrosted, which means it's time to frost those glasses and get ready for #RooftopPartySzn — otherwise known as spring. NYC's best rooftop parties, bars, clubs, come alive in the spring and summer - it's the one time city slickers take a chance with "nature" and celebrate the outdoors - with a drink in hand, obviously.
In celebration of the warm weather, we developed, shook, and tasted-tested (and got ourselves rightfully tipsy on), some spring cocktail recipes that you'll be sippin' on until you unpack the Canada Goose again next fall.
Let's start off with a super simple drink, inspired by the geniuses at Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar. This is super easy to make, and you won't have to pay an upwards of $20 just to enjoy it. (Although their drinks are definitely worth the cash.)
Boujie Boozie Smoothies
- Prep Time:10 mins
- Cook Time:1 hr
- Total Time:1 hr 10 mins
- Servings:12
- Easy
- Frozen mixed berries
- Fresh mint and basil
- Champagne
Ingredients
-
Step 1
In a blender, combine frozen fruit, 1 fresh mint leaf, and 1 fresh basil leaf. We used blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries.
-
Step 2
Pour smoothie into ice cube container and freeze until solid.
-
Step 3
Pop some champagne, pour into glasses, and top with the smoothie ice cubes.
Strawberry & Lime Margaritas
- Prep Time:15 mins
- Cook Time:15 mins
- Total Time:30 mins
- Servings:2
- Easy
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 12 strawberries
- 1 lime
- 3 oz tequila
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Make a simple syrup using the sugar and water. Bring the two to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Once all of the sugar is dissolved, boil for another 30 seconds, and turn off the heat. Let sit until cool.
-
Step 2
Once the simple syrup is cool, put in a blender with the strawberries and the zest of a quarter of a lime. Blend until smooth.
-
Step 3
Add the simple syrup strawberry mixture, tequila, the juice of a half to a whole lime, and ice cubes to a shaker and shake it real good.
-
Step 4
Pour into glasses rimmed with salt and top off with a lime wedge.
Beauty & the Beast
- Prep Time:10 mins
- Cook Time:1 hr
- Total Time:1 hr 10 mins
- Servings:4
- Easy
- 2 cups coconut water
- 1 chile pepper
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 lemon
- Basil leaves
- 3 oz. tequila
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Pour the coconut water into a mason jar. Chop the chile pepper into thick rings and drop into the coconut water (with all of the seeds!) Refrigerate for an hour to overnight. If you want a spicier drink (which we recommend!) leave it in the fridge for longer.
-
Step 2
Add all of the other ingredients (except basil) and the coconut chile water to a shaker, add ice cubes, and shake the night away. Serve with a lemon slice and the basil.
Midnight Madness
- Prep Time:10 mins
- Cook Time:30 mins
- Total Time:40 mins
- Servings:4
- Medium
- 2 cups blueberries
- 1 1/2 cups blackberries
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 5 tablespoons water
- Lime
- 2 chopped mint leaves
- 2 chopped basil leaves
- 3 oz. vodka
- Seltzer
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Make the fruit compote: put berries, sugar, water, basil, mint, and some lime zest in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the berries begin to burst and become fragrant. Break some open by pushing them up against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon. Cook until the compote becomes a loose syrup, then remove from the heat to cool.
-
Step 2
Once the compote has cooled, put it in a shaker with vodka and lime juice. Shake well before pouring seltzer into the shaker and STIR IT. If you try to shake it, IT WILL EXPLODE.
-
Step 3
Strain into glasses, and divide the compote left in the shaker amongst the glasses. Garnish with your fave fancy ice cubes.
Summer Shaker
- Prep Time:10 mins
- Cook Time:30 mins
- Total Time:40 mins
- Servings:4
- Easy
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 jalapeño
- 3 oz. vodka
- 1 grapefruit
- 1 lime
- Basil
Ingredients
-
Step 1
Add the water, sugar, and a handful of basil leaves to a medium saucepan and prepare a simple syrup as directed in the Strawberry & Lime Margarita recipe. While it's coming to a boil, chop a jalapeño into thick rings and reserve (with the seeds!) Once the syrup is removed from the heat, add the jalapeño rings and seeds to the syrup and stir well.
-
Step 2
Once the syrup has cooled, pour in shaker with the vodka, the juice from half of a lime, half of a grapefruit, and ice — shake well.
-
Step 3
Pour into glasses and top with a lime or grapefruit wedge and some basil.
Drink well & responsibly.